Mothers expose filth on our hospital wards

More than half of mothers in London and the South-East say wards were dirty when they gave birth in hospital, a survey reveals today.

The findings, which will embarrass health trusts and hospitals in the region, compare poorly with national figures.

Only 43 per cent of mothers in the region said hospital wards were clean compared with 59 per cent nationally.

More than half (53 per cent) of London mothers questioned said they did not receive efficient nursing care, against an average of 49 per cent - and although 44 per cent of women nationally said they would be happy to give birth again in the same hospital, only 37 per cent would in London.

The findings come in the week public sector union Unison has revealed hospitals have half the cleaners of 20 years ago - a decline being blamed for the rise of lethal superbug MRSA.

The survey of 3,000 mothers and pregnant women found that giving birth in hospital is a terrifying experience which leaves women in a state of shock.

Eight out of 10 said they were frightened during labour, and three quarters said it was more painful than they had imagined.

The survey was carried out by motherandbabymagazine.com and claims to be the most comprehensive of its kind.

It found considerable variation around the country when it questioned women about their experiences of pregnancy and birth.

Editor Elena Dalrymple said: "Birth in Britain today is a lottery."

Women who enjoyed good support from their midwife were most likely to have a good experience, she said, but added: "If your local maternity unit is understaffed and underresourced, you're not going to be as lucky."

The survey also found rates for Caesarean sections were at an all-time high. More than a quarter of women in the South-East and London gave birth this way,

five per cent higher than nationally.

Mrs Dalrymple said: "Most women dream of a natural labour, with as little intervention as possible, but this is increasingly unlikely.

"Caesarean rates are at an all-time high - with the risks attached to major surgery. This, plus the number of assisted deliveries and the need for stitches, means a mum's recovery time is going to be much longer and she will find it difficult to look after her baby during the early weeks."

Mary Newburn of the National Childbirth Trust said: "Clearly there are problems because women say they are not getting the quality of care they need.

"It is a time when women are vulnerable: most women will only give birth once or twice in their lives and they need to rely on a good, clean hospital."

Caesarean rates could be higher in London because of the difficulties in recruiting and retaining midwives in the capital, Mrs Newburn added.

But positive findings also emerged from the survey. An overwhelming 95 per cent of women said motherhood had made them happier, and just four per cent said they resented the sacrifices they had been forced to make.

Meanwhile, one in five men admitted they fled the birth feeling sick, and 64 per cent claimed they frequently changed nappies.